Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a group of clinical syndromes of unknown etiology, characterized primarily by widespread pain and marked physical discomfort. It is often accompanied by fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, and psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety. FMS is classified as primary or secondary. Primary FMS is idiopathic and is not associated with any organic disease. Secondary FMS occurs in association with various rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, and may also be associated with non-rheumatic conditions such as hypothyroidism and malignant tumors.

TCM Pattern Identification and Medication Reference

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Wandering pain throughout the body, with tenderness on pressure; irritability and a tendency to anger; a dark-red tongue or one with purple spots, white or yellow coating, and a wiry, choppy pulse

In everyday terms:

  • Pain may move from one area of the body to another.
  • The painful areas are tender; touching or pressing firmly can noticeably worsen the discomfort.
  • You may feel restless and irritable, with marked mood swings and difficulty calming down.
  • When you stick out your tongue, it may look dark red or show purple spots.
  • The tongue coating may be white or yellow.
  • On pulse examination, the pulse may feel taut like a stretched string and somewhat rough or uneven.

|Treatment approach

Clinical description:

Soothe the liver, relieve constraint, regulate Qi, and alleviate pain

In everyday terms:

  • Soothe the liver → Ease constrained Liver Qi and promote its smooth flow, with the aim of reducing distension in the ribs, emotional suppression, and irritability.
  • Relieve constraint → Ease stagnation of Qi and reduce fullness or discomfort in the chest and ribs, a sensation of obstruction in the throat, and restlessness.
  • Regulate Qi → Harmonize the movement and circulation of Qi to help address bloating, migrating pain, and pulling discomfort.
  • Alleviate pain → Relieve pain, particularly distending, migrating, or stabbing pain associated in TCM with Liver Qi stagnation.

|Related products

The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Jia Wei Xiao Yao San

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Generalized soreness and pain, with a heavy, stiff feeling that worsens in damp or rainy weather; a dusky-purple tongue or purple spots, a white, greasy coating, and a wiry, slippery, or choppy pulse

In everyday terms:

  • You may experience soreness and pain throughout the body.
  • Your body may feel heavy and stiff, with reduced ease of movement.
  • Symptoms may worsen in damp or rainy weather.
  • When you stick out your tongue, it may look dark purple or show purple spots.
  • The tongue coating may be white and greasy.
  • On pulse examination, the pulse may feel taut like a stretched string and smooth, or somewhat rough and uneven.

|Treatment approach

Clinical description:

Resolve dampness, transform phlegm, invigorate blood, and unblock the channels

In everyday terms:

  • Resolve dampness → In TCM terms, dispel internal dampness to ease heaviness, a sticky or sluggish feeling, swelling, and a sense of heaviness in the joints.
  • Transform phlegm → In TCM terms, transform thick phlegm and dampness to ease difficulty clearing phlegm, chest tightness, and a sense of blockage.
  • Invigorate blood → Promote blood circulation to help relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness attributed to blood stasis.
  • Unblock the channels → In TCM terms, promote circulation through the channels and microcirculation to ease numbness, pulling pain, and restricted movement.

|Related products

The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Diffuse dull pain and muscle tightness or spasms, shortness of breath and fatigue, a pale or sallow complexion; a pale tongue with a thin white coating and a fine, weak pulse

In everyday terms:

  • You may have a dull ache throughout the body, along with a feeling of muscle tightness or cramping.
  • You may feel short of breath and tired, and may become breathless or feel weak with activity.
  • Your complexion may look pale or sallow and dull.
  • When you stick out your tongue, it may look pale.
  • The tongue coating may be thin and white, rather than thick or greasy.
  • On pulse examination, the pulse may feel fine and weak, with a less forceful beat.

|Treatment approach

Clinical description:

Tonify Qi, nourish blood, relax the sinews, and invigorate the channels

In everyday terms:

  • Tonify Qi → Support vitality and the functions of the internal organs, and ease shortness of breath, weakness, and fatigue.
  • Nourish blood → Nourish the blood in TCM terms to support Qi and blood, and address a poor complexion, dizziness, palpitations, and numbness in the limbs.
  • Relax the sinews → Relax muscles and sinews to ease tightness, spasms, and pulling sensations, and improve ease of movement.
  • Invigorate the channels → Promote circulation through the channels and microcirculation to ease numbness, pain, and restricted movement.

|Related products

The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan

|Common Symptoms

Clinical description:

Yin-deficiency predominant: aching pain and discomfort in the muscles and sinews, dizziness, tinnitus, and soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; a red tongue with little coating and a fine, rapid pulse
Yang-deficiency predominant: tight, cramping sinews and channels with cold pain, especially below the waist and knees, and frequent nighttime urination; a pale tongue with a white coating and a deep, wiry, weak pulse

In everyday terms:

  • With a predominantly yin-deficient pattern, the muscles and sinews may ache and feel uncomfortable.
  • With a predominantly yin-deficient pattern, you may experience dizziness and ringing in the ears.
  • With a predominantly yin-deficient pattern, the lower back and knees may feel weak and sore.
  • With a predominantly yin-deficient pattern, the tongue may look red with little coating.
  • With a predominantly yin-deficient pattern, the pulse may feel fine and fast.
  • With a predominantly yang-deficient pattern, the muscles and sinews may feel tight and cramp, with cold pain.
  • With a predominantly yang-deficient pattern, symptoms may be more pronounced below the waist and knees.
  • With a predominantly yang-deficient pattern, nighttime urination may be more frequent and abundant.
  • With a predominantly yang-deficient pattern, the tongue may look pale with a white coating.
  • With a predominantly yang-deficient pattern, the pulse may be easier to feel with deeper pressure and feel taut like a stretched string but weak in force.

|Treatment approach

Clinical description:

Yin-deficiency predominant: nourish and replenish the Liver and Kidneys and strengthen the sinews and bones. Yang-deficiency predominant: tonify the Kidneys, benefit the Liver, warm Yang, and unblock the channels.

In everyday terms:

  • Predominantly yin-deficient pattern:
  • Nourish the Liver and Kidneys → In TCM terms, replenish the essence, blood, and yin of the Liver and Kidneys to address discomforts such as dry mouth and throat, hot flashes, night sweats, and soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees.
  • Strengthen the sinews and bones → Support the strength and resilience of the sinews and bones, ease soreness, weakness, and joint instability, and help make movement feel easier.
  • Predominantly yang-deficient pattern:
  • Tonify the Kidneys and benefit the Liver → Support Kidney Qi and nourish the Liver in TCM terms, with the aim of supporting vitality and recovery and addressing cold intolerance, cold limbs, and fatigue.
  • Warm Yang and unblock the channels → Warm and support Yang and promote circulation through the channels in TCM terms to address cold-related stagnation, cold pain, numbness, and difficulty bending or extending the limbs.

|Related products

The products below are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan
Zuo Gui Wan
Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan

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